Goethe fountain in Aš

The Goethe Fountain (Goethova kašna) is a stone monument and fountain standing on Goethovo náměstí (Goethe Square) in Aš, a town in the Cheb region of the Czech Republic, right on the border with Germany. The monument shows Johann Wolfgang von Goethe standing on a pedestal at the center of a stone fountain basin and commemorates the poet's stays in Aš between 1806 and 1823. It is the only monument to Goethe in the Czech Republic that depicts him holding a mineral in his hand — a nod to his passion for geology and mineralogy, which he pursued during his travels through the Karlovy Vary and Cheb region.

When was the fountain built?

The monument was unveiled in 1932, on the 100th anniversary of Goethe's death (the poet died in 1832). It was designed by Johannes Watzal of Teplice. At the time, Aš (known in German as Asch) was an almost entirely German-speaking town, and honoring Goethe on its main square reflected the local cultural tradition of the interwar period.

Why was the fountain removed, and how did it come back?

In 2008 the fountain was dismantled as part of a reconstruction of the road infrastructure on Goethe Square. Both the statue and the stone basin were moved into storage, where they underwent professional restoration. Six years later, on 18 August 2014, the monument returned to its original spot on the square. During reinstallation, a time capsule was placed inside it, containing documents about local life, historical materials, press clippings, and commemorative medals. The formal public rededication ceremony followed on 26 September 2014.

What makes this spot special?

Together with a house on Zámecká Street, the Goethe Fountain is one of the few original structures to survive from the historic layout of Aš's old square — most of the town center's earlier buildings no longer exist. As a result, the fountain works as a physical link between the town's pre-war history and its present-day appearance.

What was Goethe's connection to Aš?

The monument refers to Goethe's documented stays in Aš and its surroundings between 1806 and 1823. The poet repeatedly visited the Cheb region and its nearby spa towns — Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, and Františkovy Lázně — and used these trips to pursue his geological studies, which is why the statue holds a mineral, a clear reference to that side of his interests.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the fountain located? On Goethovo náměstí (Goethe Square) in the center of Aš, in the Cheb region, right by the Czech-German border.

Who designed the monument? The 1932 design was created by Johannes Watzal of Teplice.

Why was the monument missing from the square for several years? It was dismantled in 2008 during reconstruction of the square's road infrastructure and returned after restoration in August 2014.

What does the mineral in Goethe's hand symbolize? It is the only Czech monument portraying Goethe with a mineral, referencing his interest in geology, which he pursued during his stays in the Karlovy Vary and Cheb region.

Was anything hidden inside the fountain during the restoration? Yes — when it was reinstalled in 2014, a time capsule was placed inside containing documents, historical materials, and commemorative medals.